72 THE POLAND OF PILSUDSKI
Pilsudski. They did not resist, but Pilsudski, in view of his
inferior strength and the possibility of trouble, commenced
negotiations with these Councils which led to an agreement on
November 16 for the peaceful evacuation of the German troops
on condition that they laid down their arms before crossing the
frontier. By November 19 they were all evacuated.
POLAND PARTLY LIBERATED
A very considerable part of the new State was thus actually
liberated. But there were other and stronger German armies on
the inarch home from White Russia on the north, and the Ukraine
in Russia on the south, and might cause great disturbances in
Poland and even threaten her very existence, not only by fighting
but also by preparing the way for Bolshevism. Fighting took
place between the Poles and the Germans in the Kresy, but it did
not spread, and the bulk of the German troops eventually took
directions back to Germany that did not trespass on the new
State. Poland broke off relations with Germany on December 15,
thus showing her solidarity with the Allies; she broke with Soviet
Russia two days earlier.
LWOW TAKEN
Pilsudski took prompt steps for the relief of Lwow. When the
Ukrainians seized the city they failed to dislodge a small Polish
force from one part of it, and presently these Poles were joined
by a number of their compatriots, including women, from other
parts. A fierce struggle went on in the streets for nearly three
weeks, the Poles succeeding in recovering some ground, but as
they were entirely isolated their plight was desperate. The first
move for their relief came from Cracow; Przemysl, which the
Ukrainians had occupied with Austrian support, was retaken, and
a base provided for further operations. On November 13 an order
was received from Pilsudski by Roja at Cracow to attack the
Ukrainians at Lwow; at the same time detachments were sent
from Warsaw and Lublin.
The combined expedition left Przemysl on November 19,
surprised the Ukrainians by a rapid march along the railway, and
got into touch with the Poles defending the city on the following